Page 42 - Lighting Magazine November 2019

30 under 30
MEET
JEFFREY IZOWER
RICCI SALES
SALES REPRESENTATIVE/ TERRITORY MANAGER
PARK RIDGE, N.J.
How I ended up in lighting: I was introduced to the lighting industry through a family member. I was 14 and looking for my first summer job. My hometown had three lighting showrooms and I was pointed in the direction of Paramus Lighting. I interviewed for the position of a warehouse associate, and after a few weeks was moved to the showroom floor to be a salesperson. It was tough, yet I was introduced to what it’s like to work retail sales. I learned bulbs, flush- mounts, and vanities. In my mind, selling chandeliers was the toughest of all because of the larger investment to the walk-in customer.
Looking back, I remember wanting to sell one of the high-end chandelier brands. Luckily, to my surprise, I had the opportunity to sell a Schonbek to a walk-in customer off the floor (ah, the small things in life!). For a summer job, it was an enlightening experience. I hold many fond memories of the people I was able to meet, some of whom still work in the lighting industry today.
Afterwards, I heard of an opening at Capitol Lighting and fell into the position of assistant shop manager, where my primary job was to build new product and maintain the current displays in the galleries. I also helped the warehouse staff organize inventory and pull orders for customers when they experienced times of stress during the nights and weekends. My time there introduced me to what feels like the graduating class of current reps within the industry.
Further, after graduating high school and during my interim breaks in college, I would join the rep agency Ricci Sales as a service manager. This gave me the opportunity to meet many of the same customers I currently call on. These experiences helped lay the foundation for me to understand the larger scope of the lighting industry today.
What I would be doing if not in the lighting industry: Administration in public or private education. While attending college in Albany, I managed an after- school program at the New York State Museum. After graduating, I went to a post-graduate program for K-12 education and special ed. The classes were at night and I worked as a sales representative during the day. Finishing my first semester in post-graduate studies left me discontent with more schooling. At that point, I wanted to invest myself fully into work. If I didn’t choose a career in the lighting industry, I would have taken further administrative courses while teaching to continue the path of becoming a principal or superintendent of a school system.
Job accomplishment that I am most proud of to date: There have been several moments over the course of my time spent in the industry where I have taken on more responsibility, and that my role in the agency has become a greater contributor to the whole. It’s hard to pin down exact points that I can say are my most “proud moments.” There have been great sales, unbelievable feats of visual merchandising, and certain situations that have required creative problem- solving. These moments have left me with the feeling of accomplishment when completed. Yet, with all the different aspects of my job, it takes others to help col- laborate and contribute to these goals. To be part of a team of unique individuals and be able to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks is what I find to be the most rewarding accomplishment. (Please note: Thank you to the Ricci Sales office staff, as well as all the customer service representatives in the lighting industry!)
40 enLIGHTenment magazine | november 2019
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